Creamed celery is traditionally prepared for the feast which follows a wedding in the Lancaster Amish community. Most weddings occur in November and December, so celery is one of the few fresh vegetables available then. Since it is not usually raised in quantity, it is not eaten routinely for main daily meals. Creamed celery, then, is a delicacy adding to the celebration. It is the custom for a family with a daughter planning to be married in the fall to put out an unusually large celery patch. Alert neighbors and visitors learn from that cue that a wedding will be coming up! The formal announcement of the event takes place only a week or two before the wedding itself. One mother of nine, who has made an abundance of creamed celery, explains that vinegar is added to prevent the cream sauce from curdling. The sweet-sour dressing is present here again, another example of that particular taste preference among the Amish.